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Spoilers => Prog => Topic started by: Tjm86 on 24 March, 2018, 12:37:32 PM

Title: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 March, 2018, 12:37:32 PM
An impressive cover for an equally impressive prog.  Dredd seems to be setting Pin up as a new Edgar, although perhaps I'm misreading things.  Jaegir continues to evolve nicely and Sinister Dexter is another exercise in punch-line establishment that it tends to do best.  Anderson draws us further in.  Can't remember if we've seen Echo before or when and not so sure about how Karyn ended up where she did.  Then we round out with Stront which has a nice old-school feel to it as more of the set up is established.  Dreaming of Wulf's death may point to the reason behind Alpha's hostility but there seems to have been an edge to him that wasn't there before the death.


... and as for the art; Weston, Coleby, Yeowell, Roach, Ezquerra ... all on fine form.  Another treat.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 24 March, 2018, 03:23:52 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/BasUYp5.jpg)

Emily Zeinner
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Richard on 24 March, 2018, 03:38:44 PM
Can't remember who Echo is, or how Karyn got possessed by a demon, although I do recall that that happened. But will be interesting to see what happens next week. And Roach's art is brilliant.

I like how Nu-Earth is a dumping-ground for has-beens.

All five stories were good this week.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Colin YNWA on 24 March, 2018, 05:10:21 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 24 March, 2018, 12:37:32 PM
... and as for the art; Weston, Coleby, Yeowell, Roach, Ezquerra ... all on fine form.  Another treat.

Well there's no denying this is absolutely true. The Prog is a joy in the eye. Mind to bring us back down to earth Tharg points out in the Nerve Centre that Emily Zeinner's cover is the first by a woman since Angie Kincaid's Slaine back in 330... that's pretty damned rubbish, worse that we as fans haven't noticed! Shame on us all and here's to getting that sorted pretty bloody quickly!

Anyway to matters Thrillpowered. Dredd is a really great scene setter developing relationships and move the dynamic between Dredd and Pin on in dramatic ways, while not being overtly dramatic as a story. The game one thinks is afoot.

Jaegir continues to pack quite a punch and is really moving things on very nicely. While in Sinister Dexter  once again Dabnett and Yeowell provide a masterclass in how to do a self contained story that doesn't move anything on but is wholely satisfying in its own right.

I'm struggling slightly with Anderson , glorious though the art is its not quite hanging together and I keep double guessing myself, going back to check what I've missed only to find its nothing and what I thought must be there isn't. Are we meant to know Echo?

Strontium Dog builds towards being something also, but also doesn't quite feel like it is yet. The introduction of the case at the end of the strip might be what we need to pull this together and make his not just a set of reminiscences and revelations about Wulf. It will also hopefully give Kenton more room to develop as a character not just a legacy. Still much potential not quite yet realised.

Overall nothing jarring and three excellent strips so all good with me.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Bolt-01 on 24 March, 2018, 05:34:59 PM
I don't think we've met Echo before but Karyn was possessed in the Undercity in a strip by Rennie and Cook waay back in the day. She's presumably been locked up since.

Top proggage and YAAY for Mimkiki !!
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 March, 2018, 06:06:00 PM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 24 March, 2018, 05:10:21 PM
Emily Zeinner's cover is the first by a woman since Angie Kincaid's Slaine back in 330... that's pretty damned rubbish, worse that we as fans haven't noticed! Shame on us all and here's to getting that sorted pretty bloody quickly!

What I like most is that those that have been selected so far have produced some cracking work.  We're getting positive discrimination with a capital POSITIVE.  Agree though, it's remiss of us to have missed that point.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 March, 2018, 06:23:45 PM
... oh, and found the strip Bolt was talking about with Karyn's possession.  Descent circa prog 1436, all of 13 years ago!
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: sheridan on 24 March, 2018, 10:37:13 PM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 24 March, 2018, 05:10:21 PM
Tharg points out in the Nerve Centre that Emily Zeinner's cover is the first by a woman since Angie Kincaid's Slaine back in 330... that's pretty damned rubbish, worse that we as fans haven't noticed! Shame on us all and here's to getting that sorted pretty bloody quickly!

Give Fay Dalton more work!  I'm guessing that means that the prog has now had a grand total of two female cover artists in 41 years, and the Megazine one?  Particularly saddening considering Jan Shepheard designed a logo which has appeared on a good number of those covers...

p.s. great cover by Emily!
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: 73north on 25 March, 2018, 10:23:20 AM
I also really enjoyed the whole comic , agree , there was not one weak story -

I am especially enjoying the long-awaited new series by Gordon Rennie - Jaegir
I have been a huge , huge fan of it since it started in 2014 , I thought the idea that Nu-Earth
was the equivalent of getting sent to the Eastern Front - excellent
( and we learned the surname of Reesa ) in the second part In the Realm Of Pyrrhus

I am also delighted we have finally a new STRONTIUM DOG , as I adore that character
( I read the first issue he was introduced , in Starlord , back in 1978 - so I have a personal connection )

2000ad is really excellent this week - looking forward to next weeks issue
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Proudhuff on 27 March, 2018, 11:15:23 AM
I know we should never have doubted Tharg... Last week's jumping on Prog was the best for a long long time and this one continues in the same vein.
And there's even a letters page with not a whimper from But'man how sweet is that  :lol:
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Magnetica on 27 March, 2018, 06:23:48 PM
Really great Prog this week, if anything even better than last week.

I am sorry to see Dredd finish so soon, but there is a promise of more (I am "to be continued"doesn't mean next week  :lol:)

Jaegir provides a nice explanation for why last week's episode read more like a traditional Rogue Trooper episode and sets up some intrigue to come. A great example of an episode that reads well in the week it is published and is part of a greater whole (the lack of this sort of things seems to have been the main complaint against 2000AD lately).

Sinister Dexter is great as always.

Where we meant to recognise the judge on the second last page with the long dark hair in Anderson?
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Magnetica on 27 March, 2018, 06:34:00 PM
Doh! Hadn't finished - where is the modify button when you need it?

Strontium Dog is just great. Those last few panels promise a real old school caper is to follow.I can even forgive the flashback / dream sequence given it has not been done to death (unlike in Slaine).

We get an explanation for how come everyone is still alive in Bad Company on the letters page. Now I have heard this before (on the Thrillcast with Pete Milligan a while back) and it's not an explanation I can get on board with. It's tantamount to just saying it's ok to forget anything that happened previously and just do whatever. As well as the issue that creates for previous series it also means that the same applies to any new series, which for me puts them into the category that nothing that happens in them matters. And if that is 5 case, it pretty much destroys any dramatic tension.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Proudhuff on 28 March, 2018, 12:30:06 PM
I'm so looking forward to Dredd finding Judge Pin's trophy collection, and also what he's planning with his 'trusted' colleagues, (Dirty Frank? but who's Sam btw?) Shirley he's not planning regime change?! Purge of Council of Five? He mentions Smiley as an adversary too... Really nice set up, and the more I go over Jaegir the more I like it, artwork is outstanding.

New Dark Age? My Arse!
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: broodblik on 28 March, 2018, 02:54:58 PM
The prog is currently going strong.

Dredd promises of things to come with Pin looking like a menacing adversary.

Jaeger my favorite strip of current run and I really like the build-up to the real reason why they are on Nu-Earth

Sin/Dex is to much one-offs and I would rather have a bigger story (please Mr Abnett rather focus in bringing either the next chapters of Brink or Kingdom).

Quote from: Magnetica on 27 March, 2018, 06:34:00 PM

Strontium Dog is just great. Those last few panels promise a real old school caper is to follow.I can even forgive the flashback / dream sequence given it has not been done to death (unlike in Slaine).


My same sentiment

Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: TordelBack on 28 March, 2018, 08:52:44 PM
As is often the way, I enjoyed this prog of second episodes even more than last week's openers.  Everything has settled in nicely, although I could definitely have managed another episode of that wonderful Dredd.

One of the more deliciously brutal Sinister Dexters, old-fashioned fun on NuEarth in Jaegir, and a deeply enjoyable Strontium Dog.  Additional appreciative murmurs for Anderson, the mix of reassuringly familiar Roach art, old characters and Beeby's new stylings works so well. 

A very, very good'un.

   
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: JOE SOAP on 28 March, 2018, 09:03:04 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 28 March, 2018, 08:52:44 PM
As is often the way, I enjoyed this prog of second episodes even more than last week's openers.  Everything has settled in nicely, although I could definitely have managed another episode of that wonderful Dredd.

#metoo. The second eps of 4/5ths of the stories are better than the 1st.

I wonder if taking The Long Walk is now more the equvalent of retiring to the country. Gerhart out amongst in the Townships is something I want to see – Tharg, resurrect that Badlander idea from the Judge Dredd fortnightly?
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Verence on 28 March, 2018, 11:14:23 PM
If you look carefully at the two SJS Judges leading away a prisoner on the first page of the Dredd story you'll see they are called Diffring and Nesbitt..

I'm assuming they are named after Anton Diffring (Rent-a-Nazi to the British film industry in the 50s, 60s and 70s) and Derren Nesbitt who both appeared in the action film Where Eagles Dare.


A question about Kenton Sternhammer... is his lack of nose a mutation he got from his mother or is it the result of some sort of violent incident?
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: JOE SOAP on 28 March, 2018, 11:29:07 PM
Quote from: Verence on 28 March, 2018, 11:14:23 PMI'm assuming they are named after Anton Diffring

Twice in one week for Diffring: http://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=31824.12060
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: The Adventurer on 29 March, 2018, 03:07:25 AM
Quote from: Verence on 28 March, 2018, 11:14:23 PM
If you look carefully at the two SJS Judges leading away a prisoner on the first page of the Dredd story you'll see they are called Diffring and Nesbitt..

I'm assuming they are named after Anton Diffring (Rent-a-Nazi to the British film industry in the 50s, 60s and 70s) and Derren Nesbitt who both appeared in the action film Where Eagles Dare.


A question about Kenton Sternhammer... is his lack of nose a mutation he got from his mother or is it the result of some sort of violent incident?

I think it's a mutation. As it's my understanding only mutants can be SD agents. In fact, I've always assumed Wolf was never an actual Strontium Dog due being a non mutant human. I don't recall him ever having a badge. He was just Johnny's partner.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: norton canes on 29 March, 2018, 08:49:11 AM
The thrill power renaissance continues apace. Best set of strips since Hope/Kingdom/Kingmaker/The Order just over a year ago.

Cover: Lovely, subtle but striking use of colour and brush texture. Nice emphasis on the chain and the strip light reflections are fantastic. Shame about the slightly unsympathetic typfaces/setting.

Dredd: This is great stuff, really getting into - oh. It's over. Ah well, here's to a swift continuation. Perhaps a bit continuity-heavy for a jumping-on story would be my only complaint, despite the efforts to fill us in on Gerhart's history.

Jaegir: Top thrill. Exposition nicely framed within action. Love the way Simon Coleby draws expressions showing through the Nort suit fabric stretched across the characters' faces.

SinDex: Boom, tish!

Anderson: Hmm. Echoing others' thoughts (pun intended) that it's going a long way back continuity-wise. What with the reappearance of Lamia recently it's like Psi judges are returning from the dead. Also yes, the narrative is a little clumsy in places. And I see David Roach is getting a bit sixth form porn fantasy again with the Anderson astral projection panels. Still, it's a good read.

Strontium Dog: Ah, John Wagner is a joy to read when he's on this form. The attempted hijack, and the "I thought you would be larger" routine on the last page... he's simply one of the funniest writers in comics.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Aaron A Aardvark on 29 March, 2018, 09:38:33 AM
Another excellent Prog, with the Megazine as well I'm likeing everything so far this month.

Dredd exceptional and loving the retro-Strontium Dog.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Tiplodocus on 30 March, 2018, 09:46:38 AM
My eyes are full of thrills.

Cracking progs... sad to see the Dredd close so quickly but  I suppose that's the price for the meticulous art. Sin Dex was reliable as ever. And funny. Anderson has me intrigued but unusually where there is also an excellent Wagner/Ezquerra Stront, it's Jaegir that is top thrill. Brilliant stuff.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: DrJomster on 30 March, 2018, 09:29:20 PM
Very nice prog. Top quality all round and a great cover.

*invents time travel quickly just to get to next week's prog now*
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: sheridan on 30 March, 2018, 11:04:39 PM
Great couple of progs since the last jump-on.  I liked the previous line-up, though there could have been more of a mix of longer-run and short-run stories.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Trout on 31 March, 2018, 01:30:51 AM
Every page of every story is top-quality work. I loved every panel, but my favourite part was the cameo by Judge Slocum, still pickled after all these years!
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 31 March, 2018, 10:00:58 AM
Quote from: The Adventurer on 29 March, 2018, 03:07:25 AM
As it's my understanding only mutants can be SD agents. In fact, I've always assumed Wolf was never an actual Strontium Dog due being a non mutant human. I don't recall him ever having a badge. He was just Johnny's partner.

Aye, I think you do have to be a mutie - hence the fuss about the Ikans during the Life and Death storyline, being off-worlders instead and evidence if how the modern Doghouse has let standards slip.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Fungus on 31 March, 2018, 03:17:40 PM
The prog gives itself a shake and comes back to life  :)

Don't know what the (Jack?) Ruby Easter egg in Dredd means, is it a clever parallel ref? With glorious detailed Weston art like this it's nice to linger over...

Jaegir & Strontium Dog are the other highlights for me.

Since nothing's perfect, I didn't get along with Anderson, these pstories don't do much for me and the cover looks extremely rushed (sorry). Anderson floating around out-of-body style is hard to take even psemi-pseriously.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: sheridan on 31 March, 2018, 04:51:19 PM
Quote from: Trout on 31 March, 2018, 01:30:51 AM
Every page of every story is top-quality work. I loved every panel, but my favourite part was the cameo by Judge Slocum, still pickled after all these years!

Yes, I noticed that but couldn't remember if Slocum was SJS at the time?  Is there any additional significance to his preservation in an SJS court?
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Tjm86 on 31 March, 2018, 09:54:18 PM
no.  just a historical reference to geek out us oldies.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Steve Green on 01 April, 2018, 09:41:33 AM
Other than that, it would fit in with the self-flagellating atmosphere of the SJS.

Slocum was a member of the SJS under control of Cal.

Considering Cal was a madman who nearly wiped out the whole city, it serves as a reminder of their failure there.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: TordelBack on 01 April, 2018, 09:57:39 AM
Yeah,  Cal was head of the SJS, and Slocum his chief brainwashed toady (and eventually Dredd's double-agent) in what was essentially an SJS coup. His specific fate is down to Cal's desire for the perfect and unchanging (wrinkle-free) judge and city.  It's as good a cautionary example for the SJS as you can think of (encompassing both the need for internal oversight, and the dangers of excessive power and perfectionism)  and one of the best details in a truly gorgeous two-parter.
Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: Link Prime on 16 April, 2018, 02:28:45 PM
Just catching up on a few weeks worth of Progs, and I must say, this was the strongest one I've read in ages.

This all too brief Dredd story was simply top shelf stuff. The non-eye contact between Joe and Gerhart as he took the Long Walk was just Wagnerian.
Artwork in the entire Prog was second to none, just losing half a point from a perfect 10 for the coloring in Anderson. I'd have much preferred some monochrome Roach.

I've always had a bit of a bee in my bonnet with Strontium Dog since Johnny's resurrection (was never on board with it to be honest), but this was the first episode that softened my black Max Bubba heart. Brilliant stuff.

All wrapped in a great cover by talented forumite Mimikeke- looking forward to seeing more of her work.

Quote from: Proudhuff on 28 March, 2018, 12:30:06 PMwho's Sam btw?

Judge Sam, from Williams' Enceladus arc (and follow-up story with the cloaking device ninjas).

Title: Re: Prog 2074:Psiren Song
Post by: TordelBack on 16 April, 2018, 06:09:58 PM
Quote from: Link Prime on 16 April, 2018, 02:28:45 PM
All wrapped in a great cover by talented forumite Mimikeke- looking forward to seeing more of her work.

Somehow missed that entirely.  Wow, great achievement!  :thumbsup: